Would you rather have panhandlers or Barry Manilow? Tough call, but one that managers of Rite Aid stores in California found easy. With vagrants and drifters on the rise outside their outlets, they decided to use the 75-year-old Manilow’s music as a deterrent. Seems that playing soft songs such as “Copacabana” and “Mandy” at ear piercing volume is working not only on the riffraff, but on regular customers who appear dazed and confused. A cruel tactic indeed, but President Trump is considering the idea for use at the Mexican border while his wall is being built.

Red Sox and Yankees renew their rivalry in The Bronx. Two best teams in baseball are having a hard time shaking the other at the top of the AL East. Advantage Sox tonight as the consistently good Chris Sale goes against “partly” Sonny “mostly shady” Gray. 20 units on the Bosox.

Right team. Wrong night. Astros were defeated by the Rays 3-2. All the damage done in the fourth inning. Gerrit Cole taking the loss, as did we. New season low has us at -1,313 mockingbird lane.